Water quality is a primary area of focus for the Lake Zoar Authority. Beginning in 2020, Western Connecticut State University’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program includes Lake Zoar in a weekly water testing program. The annual program monitors Cyanobacteria in regional lakes during the summer months when blooms are most likely. When Microcystin toxin levels exceeded federal and state limits, public beaches are closed. The towns and DEEP also test water at public beaches.
The LZA’s role is information gathering. The LZA also participates in water studies to learn more about the changing conditions of the water. In addition to quality, the LZA has an extensive program to control the growth of invasive weeds and as funds allow the most infested areas are treated with an herbicide that is used in over 150 lakes in CT each year.
Submitted herein are test results and survey reports for public interest.
For additional information, please visit:
CT DEEP Lake and Pond Water Quality Monitoring Program
CT DEEP Lake Water Quality Management
WCSU Environmental Research Project
SOLitude Lake Management
FirstLight Power
Local Health Departments:
Monroe
Newtown
Oxford & Southbury
Prepared by Northeast Aquatic Research, 74 Higgins Highway, Mansfield Center, CT 06250 December 21, 2021 Summary Invasive aquatic plants in designated management areas in Lake Zoar were treated with the herbicide Tribune (diquat) on August 4th, 2021. Approximately 80 acres of invasive Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 7, 2021. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of 8.0 parts per billion (ppb; µg/L) for recreational......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected June 30, 2021. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of 8.0 parts per billion (ppb; µg/L) for recreational waters. Thank......
“From: Ghada Hafez<hafezg@wcsu.edu> Date: Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM Subject: Final microcystin toxin report for Sep 02, 2020 To: lakezoar@gmail.com <lakezoar@gmail.com Here are the final week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected Sept 02, 2020, below or away from any......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 26, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of 8.0 parts......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 19, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. – The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin......
“Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected August 13, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin threshold of 8.0......
Here are the Microcystin toxin report for samples collected Aug 5, 2020. *Jackson Cove beach was not able to be accessed due to fallen trees and power lines. “Microcystin Report Samples collected August 5, 2020 Site ppb (ug/L) Beseck 0.516 Brookfield 0.314 Danbury 0.341 Eichler’s Cove ......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 29, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise......
“Survey Dates: The pre-treatment survey of Lake Zoar was conducted on June 18th. A second survey was conducted on July 27th, after the first herbicide treatment and prior to the second. The final survey was conducted on October 1st, following the second herbicide treatment. 2020......
Here are this week’s assay results for Microcystin levels at tested public beach sites. Samples were collected July 15, 2020, below or away from any floating bloom material. Results meet the assay kit’s QC criteria. The U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently advise a Microcystin......
Here are the microcystin cyanotoxin concentrations from the start of the Western Connecticut State University Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program in 2016 through 2019. – Please note that prior to 2019, the limit for microcystin in recreational waters was 4 ppb. The limit was raised to 8 ppb......
